By JOHN HUGGAN AT CHAMBERS BAY

 As it turned out, this was one of those days when a ball-and-stick game played in a big field seemed a lot less important. When a physically fit young man in the prime of life suddenly collapses without warning, a wee game of golf immediately becomes a lot less significant. Which is not to say Jason Day does not deserve great credit for completing his second round in the 115th US Open. He does. But let’s hope he did so without further jeopardising his health.

Jason Day is tended to by caddie Colin Swatton as he lays on the 9th fairway. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Jason Day is tended to by caddie Colin Swatton as he lays on the 9th fairway. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Day’s on-going problem was later revealed as “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV,” (see side story below) a debilitating condition that caused him to withdraw from last month’s Byron Nelson Classic and induces the sort of dizziness that saw him keel over halfway down the steeply sloping 9th fairway (his 18th) at Chambers Bay. He is being treated locally and hopes to be able to tee-up in the third round.

“He is resting comfortably,” Day’s agent Bud Martin said in a statement on Friday night local time. “His condition is being monitored closely and he is hopeful he will be able to compete this weekend in the final rounds of the US Open.

“He wants to thank all who treated him and thank all of the fans and friends who have reached out to him and his family.”

Playing alongside Masters champion Jordan Spieth and 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose, Day stayed down for several minutes before being helped to his feet and, clearly still wobbly on his feet, making bogey from a greenside bunker to finish his round on 70. The 27-year old Queenslander is two under par at the halfway mark and well in contention for what would be a maiden major victory.

Day walks to play a bunker shot aided by medical staff. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Day walks to play a bunker shot aided by medical staff. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

“I turned around and he was laying down,” said a clearly concerned Spieth. “All I heard was he suffered dizziness. I’m not really sure what happened. We just wanted to keep the cameras away and let him get better. He could barely walk to finish the hole, which was pretty brave.

“Once he made it to the scorer’s hut he was fine, although he didn’t say much, just signed the card. Justin and I told him to get some rest and water. I was happy he could finish up, but first and foremost it’s good that he’s healthy. Let’s hope he’s okay.”

WHAT IS BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO? Vertigo is a sensation of spinning. If you have these dizzy spells, you might feel like you are spinning or that the world around you is spinning. Vertigo is often caused by an inner ear problem. Day was diagnosed in August last year of having benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV occurs when tiny calcium particles (canaliths) clump up in canals of the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. It helps you keep your balance. BPPV can occur for no known reason and may be associated with age. Vertigo is often triggered by a change in the position of your head. People with vertigo typically describe it as feeling like they are spinning, tilting, swaying, unbalanced and pulled to one direction. Other symptoms that may accompany vertigo include feeling nauseated, abnormal or jerking eye movements (nystagmus), headache, sweating, ringing in the ears or hearing loss. Symptoms can last a few minutes to a few hours or more and may come and go. Treatment for vertigo depends on what's causing it. In many cases, vertigo goes away without any treatment. This is because the brain is able to adapt, at least in part, to the inner ear changes, relying on other mechanisms to maintain balance. For some, treatment is needed and may include physical therapy, repositioning manoeuvres, medication and in rare cases, surgery. WHAT IS BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO?
Vertigo is a sensation of spinning. If you have these dizzy spells, you might feel like you are spinning or that the world around you is spinning.
Vertigo is often caused by an inner ear problem. Day was diagnosed in August last year of having benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV occurs when tiny calcium particles (canaliths) clump up in canals of the inner ear. The inner ear sends signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity. It helps you keep your balance.
BPPV can occur for no known reason.
Vertigo is often triggered by a change in the position of your head. People with vertigo typically describe it as feeling like they are spinning, tilting, swaying, unbalanced and pulled to one direction. Other symptoms that may accompany vertigo include feeling nauseated, abnormal or jerking eye movements (nystagmus), headache, sweating, ringing in the ears or hearing loss.
Symptoms can last a few minutes to a few hours or more and may come and go.
Treatment for vertigo depends on what's causing it. In many cases, vertigo goes away without any treatment. This is because the brain is able to adapt, at least in part, to the inner ear changes, relying on other ways to maintain balance.
For some, treatment is needed and may include physical therapy, repositioning manoeuvres, medication and in rare cases, surgery.

Day’s fellow Queenslander, Greg Norman, was another to express concern. The former Open champion hurried down from the Fox Sports commentary booth close to the 18th green to check on his compatriot’s condition.

“His head was down, his eyes were going back and forth and he said ‘I have vertigo,” reported Norman when he returned to his post. “Col Swatton (Day’s caddie) said it was exactly what happened at Firestone last year. He’s a tough kid. But it’s a little confusing for him because he doesn’t know what the issues are. He knows there’s something there though. Let’s just hope he gets better very quickly.”

Indeed, perhaps the most worrying aspect of this latest episode is that it is hardly the first time Day has suffered similar attacks. Last year he was forced to withdraw from the WGC Bridgestone Invitational last August and, more recently, similar symptoms led to him undergoing a battery of blood tests and an MRI in an attempt to identify the root of the problem. All apparently came back negative.

Back on the course, the bad news is that the eight-strong Australian contingent is down to six. The good news is that all of the survivors other than John Senden are inside the top-30.

Best placed is Day on two under par, three shots behind the halfway leaders, Spieth and American Patrick Reed.

Cameron Smith, in his first major championship, is even par after repeating his opening round of 70. Former champion Geoff Ogilvy is on 141 – the same score as close pal Adam Scott – following a “frustrating” 72 marked by many missed opportunities but boosted by birdies on each of the closing two holes. Marcus Fraser is two over after a brace of 71s. And just a little further into the pack, Senden’s two rounds of 72 have him at four over.

Only Marc Leishman (150) and Kurt Barnes (152) will be looking for something else to do over the weekend.

Day is tended to by caddie Colin Swatton after playing a bunker shot, moments after regaining his feet from a collapse. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Day is tended to by caddie Colin Swatton after playing a bunker shot, moments after regaining his feet from a collapse. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

And whether or not Day tees it up this weekend, golf has got to be the furthest thing from his mind at the moment.

 THEY SAID IT

“On a golf course like this you get exposed and you have to be precise and dialed in. Obviously I didn't have that. Obviously I need to get a little better for the British Open and I’ll keep working on it.” – Tiger Woods after missing the cut with an 80-76.

“It's an amazing experience having the big roars when you hit a good shot. And it's sort of never really happened before. It's a new experience, but it's a pretty cool one.” – Young Queenslander Cameron Smith, who is playing his first major championship.

"I'll draw some on Augusta, but at the same time my patience level has to be even that much higher. I'm not quite putting myself in the same positions off the tee, so I've got to be a little more methodical. At Augusta I was kind of finding fairways, hitting it on the green and I was making everything. That would be nice here if I could do that, but it's a harder golf course than the Masters played this year." – 36-hole co-leader Jordan Spieth.

“It’s always nice to make the cut at the US Open, and I’ve felt like I’ve played the course really well, which you have to do this week.” – Marcus Fraser.

“I don’t want to sound like a broken record about my putting … but two over is not the best score I could have had today, by a long stretch. But I think I’m probably still in the golf tournament. It won’t be far under par that wins this tournament so if I can have even a couple of high 60s rounds the next two days, I might go pretty close.” – Geoff Ogilvy.

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